Already better a day later, he said it feels good to be “a healthy guy able to fight wherever he wants.”

The 35-year-old heavyweight inked an extension this past year with Strikeforce, which UFC parent Zuffa acquired in early 2011, after his deal with the promotion’s previous owners expired.

Barnett, who signed with Strikeforce in 2010, ended his tenure with a 3-1 record. He submitted two opponents before losing an exciting decision to Daniel Cormier in the finals of the world heavyweight grand prix.

Long considered one of the top heavyweights in the sport, Barnett’s fans have voiced a desire to see him back in the UFC, where in 2002 he won the title. (The UFC later stripped him of the belt after he tested positive for steroids and left the promotion to fight overseas.)

But the open market also includes the Viacom-owned Bellator MMA, which makes its long-awaited Spike TV debut on Thursday. Showtime, whose Strikeforce deal concluded with this past weekend’s event, is in talks to partner with a new MMA promotion. In fact, officials said multiple organizations could fill the void.

Unlike others, Barnett is not bound to waiting periods that obligate him to first negotiate with Zuffa or allow the promotion to match other offers, but his manager’s intention is see what the industry-leader has in store.

“We have not entered into negotiations with any company,” manager Leland Labarre said. “We know the fans would love for Josh to fight in the UFC, and Josh would love to fight in the UFC, if that’s the way things work out.

“We want to find something that’s hopefully going to be his last contract and find a permanent home.”

Since his exit from the UFC, Barnett has struggled to find that. He has fought for a litany of promotions that have gone out of business, including PRIDE, Affliction and now Strikeforce.

Barnett anticipates a long negotiating process to get the right deal. While signing with the UFC doesn’t hinge on exclusivity, he said he would be “giving up money” by staying in one place.

“But there’s a possibility a deal can be worked out with anybody,” he said. “I think that they could come to a position with myself where it would work for both parties and everybody would be happy.”

Barnett has a sizable list of activities he’d like to pursue while winding down his career: acting, pro wrestling, racecar driving and grappling tournaments. He recently purchased a video camera with plans to shoot an instructional video series, and he expressed interest in learning how to drift race.

Most of the interests by themselves make Barnett an insurer’s nightmare. Together, they amount to one big deductible.

These days, though, Barnett is thinking about possibility over risk.

“The limitations of your standard fighter, they don’t apply to me,” he said.

From Our Partners

The Latest

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.